It is possible to borrow from a topic of biology called phylogenetic systematics, concepts and tools for a logical and objective classification of galaxies. It is based on observable properties of objects characters either qualitative (like morphology) or quantitative (like luminosity, mass or spectrum). Distance analysis can readily be performed using a method called phenetics and based on cha...

The Linnaean Hierarchy has been opposed from a number of different perspectives, but most of this opposition was based upon the confusion of two aspects of every taxon—extension and intension. These aspects account for its dual nature of simultaneous change and constancy. "Constancy" is apparent only in the differences that exist among groups of organisms; these differences appear in the very f...

Elucidating the evolution of Phlebotominae is important not only to revise their taxonomy, but also to help understand the origin of the genus Leishmania and its relationship with humans. Our study is a phenetic portrayal of this history based on the genetic relationships among some New Word and Old Word taxa. We used both multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and morphometry on 24 male specimens o...

Morphometrics is a seductive mistress. Despite its current popularity, and despite concerted attempts to explain the revolution that occurred in its practice during the 1980s and 90s, it still lulls nascent practitioners down the garden path of apparent mathematical sophistication. In return they are often left bereft and bewildered, having squandered their time carrying out simplistic analysis...